- Telecom
The telecommunications landscape is rapidly evolving, with mobile network operators (MNOs) needing to keep up with the increasing demand for faster and more reliable connectivity.
Two major MNOs, EE and Vodafone, decided to begin a large-scale nationwide equipment refresh and technology upgrade across their estates. This initiative aimed to enhance their service offerings by upgrading to the latest 4G and 5G technologies.
Our team took a comprehensive approach to the upgrade process, which included site acquisition and planning, surveying and inspecting existing structures, and designing solutions that incorporated structural calculations for the new, larger antennas.
The project needed effective power management, site rigging for coax and fibre solutions, and the swapping of vendors from Huawei to Nokia and Ericsson.
Our team was responsible for the installation and commissioning of active equipment, as well as microwave installation and commissioning, all while minimising disruption to end customers.
To achieve this, our structured approach included:
• Site Acquisition and Planning: Identifying suitable locations for new equipment and making sure all necessary permits were secured.
• Survey and Inspection: We did thorough assessments of existing sites to determine the feasibility of upgrades.
• Design: Creating detailed designs that included structural calculations for the installation of larger 4G and 5G antennas.
• Power Management: Ensuring adequate power supply and distribution for the new equipment.
• Site Rigging: Installing coax and fibre solutions for seamless connectivity.
• Vendor Swap: Coordinating the transition from Huawei to Nokia and Ericsson equipment.
• Active Equipment Installation: Installing the latest active equipment to support upgraded services.
• Active Equipment Commissioning and Site Integration: Ensuring that all new systems were properly integrated and functioning as intended.
• Microwave Installation and Commissioning: Setting up microwave links to enhance network capacity and reliability.
Throughout the process, we worked closely with the MNOs to make sure that the latest equipment was deployed efficiently, at scale, and with minimum disruption to their customers.
The project has led to a significant upgrade to the network capabilities of both EE and Vodafone.
This large-scale equipment refreshes not only improved service quality but also increased customer satisfaction by providing faster and more reliable connectivity.
The seamless execution has reduced disruption, and the MNOs have been able to maintain their operations while upgrading their technology.
